Geert Wilders' right-wing Freedom Party has gained ground in the Netherlands, almost tripling its representation in the Dutch parliament during this week's elections.

The anti-Islamic party has been campaigning for a tax on Muslim head scarves and a ban of the Koran.

Wilders, the party's leader, was recently banned from entering Britain over concerns his presence would provoke unrest among British Muslims.

"The fact that Wilders' Freedom Party gained more than pre-election polls had forecast could be partly explained by voters being reluctant to admit they will vote for a controversial candidate due to social desirability reasons," the Wall Street Journal quoted Alfred Pijpers, a senior political researcher at Clingendael, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations.

Talks are underway to include the party in a new coalition government.